Since my forming in 2014, IV of Spades have managed to subvert the mainstream’s expectations by combining pop’s melodic sensibilities with more jangly production choices. The band, consisting of Unique Salonga, Blaster Silonga, Zild Benitez, and Badjao De Castro, arrived at a time when Filipino music was dominated by “hugot” ballads. Early Spades recordings like “Ilaw Sa Daan,” “Hey Barbara,” and “Where Have You Been, My Disco?” often drew from the grooves and edges of Western funk and psychedelia; “Mundo,” their 2018 single and the band’s most streamed track to date, offers a raw take on the Filipino ballad that sees heartfelt textures in Salonga’s silvery vocals, Silonga and Benitez’s sharp string work, and De Castro’s rumbling drums.
Then, just a few months after the success of “Mundo,” the band announced Salonga was leaving IV of Spades “to continue his solo endeavors,” prompting speculation of tensions within the group. Benitez, Silonga, and De Castro continued to make music as IV of Spades, and all four musicians evolved their instincts as artists. Salonga goes on to create solo hits like “Sino,” a dreamy single devoid of his usual rhythm guitar, which quickly climbed up the national music charts. “In My Prison,” the Spades’ first track as a trio, sees the band shift towards a darker, more operatic style. Even Silonga steps out of his comfort zone to deliver a soft falsetto in “Come Inside Of My Heart,” one of their most popular tracks from CLAPCLAPCLAP!.
And just as momentum was building for them once again, Benitez, Silonga, and De Castro announced in August 2020 that they were stepping away from the band to pursue their own music projects. For many of their fans, whose journey from high school into college was soundtracked by the Spades, being roughly the same age as its members, the hiatus was bittersweet. Meanwhile, to some in the press, IV of Spades had a chip on its shoulder, one that had cursed some of the world’s greatest four-piece musical acts. Their breakdown as a group became a familiar drama of ego and unraveling, which, in the eyes of the public, was constantly subject to scrutiny.
So in July 2025, after months of speculation and occasional sightings of the band members together, IV of Spades dropped “Aura,” the lead single of Andalucia, their first album as the original quartet. The track bore a yearning that transcended their instruments, as Salonga and Benitez sing the lyrics, “Ikaw pa rin ang hahanapin,” as if they were all returning home to each other.
It is December 2025 and IV of Spades is a month into the release of Andalucia. The group is preparing to perform its first-ever two-day, full headline, sold-out show at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, being deep into a reunion that has been seven years in the making. “They play like motherfuckers. They’re tighter than the Eraserheads,” Diego Castillo, guitarist of Filipino rock band Sandwich, tells me as we wait for the band to take the stage. My question was in response to whether IV of Spades is this generation’s Eraserheads. “I just feel that they have everything,” says Raymund Marasigan, who is not only the drummer of Eraserheads or the vocalist of Sandwich, but also plays synths and samplers for the instrumental band Party Pace with De Castro, Chicosci’s Eco Del Rio, and John Apura. “They’re musical, they’re pop. They’re rock, they rock. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I’m very, very excited.”
And certainly, their talent is just one part of the story. During their two-hour show, Silonga, Benitez, and Salonga playfully taunt one another, scrambling across the stage like ping pong balls. They shred their guitars as De Castro’s drums thunder across the arena, exuding a collective chemistry that goes beyond their endurance as musicians. For the concert’s intermission, they even set up an alternative stage at the back of the pit from which they used the stage’s LED screen to play Tekken 8 on the PlayStation for the crowd to see. Witnessing them together, grinning from ear to ear, it is almost unbelievable, given everything they’ve been through. Their story isn’t just about what they are capable of as musicians; it’s about what it means to overcome each other’s differences and achieve more together than they could ever do alone.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Ano ‘yung earliest memory niyo together?As in first time nag- meet kayo…
Blaster: First kasi namin mag- meet parang ‘yung agenda agad, banda na e.
Badjao: Hindi! First [time] kita na-meet, nililigawan mo [Blaster] pinsan ko. [Laughs] Nasa bahay siya ng pinsan ko. Sabi ko, “Oh, kilala ko ‘to ah.”
Blaster: Kasi, for context, magka- kaibang panahon kasi kami nagkakila-kilala. Hindi siya dahil sa nabuo ‘yung band. So kami ni Badjao, schoolmates kami sa Marikina, magkaibang batch lang. Tapos higher batch lang siya nang onti.
Badjao: Apir! “Onti.” [High fives]
Blaster: “Onti!” [Laughs] Onti lang. Pero matagal na kaming nagkikita kung saan-saan, [kagaya] sa school pero never kami na-introduce sa isa’t-isa. So bale, nag-meet na lang tayo nung first na mag-ja-jam kami. Wala pa nga si Unique nun e. Before si Unique, kami munang tatlo ang nauna. Pampanga ka pa noon, no, Nik?
Unique: Cavite.
Blaster: Nasa Cavite pa siya noon. So ang unang nag-meet talagang tatlo, kami nina Zild, Badjao, atsaka ako. So nung nag-meet kami, sa church ‘yun ni Zild e, tapos triny lang naming tumugtog. Naalala ko ‘yung una nating meet na ‘yun. Bago pumunta doon, kumain tayo sa Maginhawa.
Badjao: Ah, oo.
Zild: Pero tayong apat, ‘di ba Cubao ‘yun? Ermin Garcia?
Blaster: Ermin Garcia.
Zild: Na studio.
So paano niyo na meet si Unique?
Zild: Sinong ka-banda ni Tito Randy [Salonga]?
Badjao: Ako.
Blaster: Pareho kami. ‘Yung parents kasi naming lahat, halos nag-session musicians. So nagsasama-sama sila, nag-co-cover bands. Tapos ‘yung dad ni Unique nakasama ako, tumugtog kami together kasama ‘yung dad ko. Sa casino pa ‘yun e, sa Pampanga. Medyo nasa conversation na ‘yung gagawa ng banda ‘yung mga anak-anak. Tapos pinakita ng dad ni Unique ‘yung—
Badjao. Oo! ‘Yung lagi sinasabi ni Tito Randy. Ito ‘yung picture tapos may gitara si Unique.
Blaster: ‘Yung may picture si Unique na sobrang daming gitara. Sinabi niya, “Itong anak ko, magaling magsulat ‘to,” ganyan- ganyan. Tapos parang, “Okay…”
Badjao: “Okay”?! [Laughs] “Sige, game!”
Blaster: [Laughs] Doon na nagsimula. Basta noong nagpunta si Unique sa Manila, na-try na namin mag-meet apat sa Cubao. So nag-jam kami ng ilang mga songs ni Unique.
Zild: Mga covers. Ed Sheeran.
Unique, ano ‘yung first impression mo kina Badjao, Blaster at Zild nung na-meet mo sila?
Zild: Shit! [Laughs]
Unique: Ano ba? Basta ang naalala ko noon, sobrang na-intimidate ako kasi sobrang galing nila tumugtog. Tapos ang ambag ko lang doon ay ‘yung mga songs. Medyo hindi ko alam kung paano sila kakausapin o anong sasabihin ko sa kanila kasi medyo magkaibang mundo rin. Syempre, galing pa akong Cavite noon, ‘tas biglang nag-Metro Manila ako ulit.
Zild: Tapos youngest pa siya. Unique: Oo, ako pa ang pinakabata. Tapos silang tatlo, may bond na.
Zild: May inside jokes ng onti.
Unique: May inside jokes na, tapos ‘yung personality nila, ang alpha lahat e.
Zild: [Laughs]
So, nag-meet kayo nina Blaster, Badjao, ilan taon kayo?
Blaster: Mga Grade 4 pa lang ganon. Mga five years bago kami mag-meet apat tapos naging banda. Nakikita ko na siya [Badjao] sa school, mga 2009 pa. [Points to Badjao] Kayo rin ni Zild, iba pa ang context.
Zild: Kami ni Badj, naging musicians kami sa church.
Badjao: Kami ni Zild ‘yung unang magkabanda. Ni-recruit ako ng dad ni Zild para tumugtog sa mga church events. Tapos ‘yung hook ng dad ni Zild, “Meron akong bahista na magaling na i-pe-pair ko sa ‘yo.” Anak niya pala ‘yun, si Zild. So ‘yun ‘yung deal.
Zild: Nung nakasama ko si Badj, 14 ako. Pero sa Spades, 16.
Badjao: Ayon. Matagal na nga. 17 o 18 ako.
Tapos, Unique, ilang taon ka nung naging tropa na kayo?
Unique: 14, 15. Mga ganun.
“Music lang talaga ‘yung importante, ‘yung collaboration nating isa’t-isa. “
Noong una ko kayong napakinggan, ‘yung first impression ko sa inyo, parang tunog Tame Impala na funky, psychedelic pero may hugot pa rin kayo na madalas naririnig sa Pinoy music. At sa interviews niyo, madalas niyo sinasabi na “indie rock” kayo o indie rock ang gusto niyong gawin. Ano ba ang ibig-sabihin ng indie rock para sa inyo?
Zild: Rock, pero hindi macho.
Unique: Patpatin.
Zild: Lampa. [Laughs] Lampa rock.
Blaster: Madumi. Rough around the edges.
Badjao: Oo, tama. Hindi quantized sobra.
Blaster: May pagka-DIY, ganun.
Badjao: Oo. Puro DIY
Bukod sa sound, ano ang indie rock para sa inyo? May iba pa bang philosophy na sinusundan niyo?
Blaster: Ako, ‘pag sinabing indie rock, na-i-imagine ko agad electric guitar, an overdrive, mga guitar pedals… Medyo mahirap siya i-describe para sa akin.
Unique: Distortion.
Zild: ‘Yun ‘yung swak ngayon kasi e. Baka in 20 years iba na tawag dun. Pero sa ngayon, dahil sa mga pinapakinggan namin, mga ina-idolize namin band or artist na medyo same ‘yung philosophy na rock pero hindi gaanong kabigat. Tsaka ‘yung philosophy na kami ‘yung gumagawa ng music, ng direction,
Komportable ba kayo sa label na ‘yun?
Blaster: Actually, ‘yung label ng genre, parang hindi rin naman namin…
Badjao: Sinusunod.
Zild: Chop suey din kami e.
Blaster: Usually sinasabi lang ‘yun dahil… Kunwari, may nagtata- nong, “So anong tugtugan niyo?” “Uh, sige, indie rock.” Kasi wala naman kami maisip e. Pero kung tutuusin lahat talaga ng klase ng music ‘yung gusto namin gawin e. Lalo na going back sa kwento kanina na ang panahon na buo kami sobrang layo talaga ng mga influences namin. So, merong lumaki sa R&B music, meron pang dumaan sa mga gospel, merong rock, OPM.
Badjao: Jazz.
Blaster: So noon nag-meet talaga kami noong una, sobrang iba-iba. Ang hirap naming i-blend. Kaya tawag namin nung una chop suey e. Baka nga ‘yun ‘yung maganda e. Chop suey rock. Best category.
Zild: Masyado rin kaming ‘di cool para sa indie rock e.
Blaster: Ang hirap rin ma-label ‘yung sarili na indie rockers.
Zild: Cool kasi indie rock, tapos ‘pag sinabing alternative rock, ‘di rin kami ganun ka-edgy. So, saan kaya kami?
Arguably, mas malaki na ang Spades ngayon kaysa dati kasi mas malawak na ‘yung reach nyo at maraming nakaka-discover sa inyo ngayon. Plus, nasa bagong chapter na talaga kayo creatively. Nararamdaman niyo pa ba na mas nagiging work na ang music?
Badjao: Presko pa rin e. Relax lang.
Blaster: Lalo na nitong nag- decide kaming bumalik apat, kasi ilang beses na nga rin naming sinabi pero before kami mag- decide maging banda ulit, hangout lang kami nang hangout. So, naka-ilang pre-prod na rin kami na, “‘Pag gagawin natin itong Spades ulit, tayo masusunod.” Music lang talaga ‘yung importante, ‘yung collaboration nating isa’t-isa. So ‘yung pressure, lahat ng mga noise talaga, as much as possible tinatakpan lang namin ‘yung tenga namin sa mga ganun e. Parang ‘yun naman ‘yung pakiramdam ko. Bihira na pumasok ‘yung outside na mga pressure. Feeling ko pa rin, kunwari ngayon, para lang kaming banda nung 2014. Magkikita mamaya. “Tara, jam tayo mamaya!” Kape-kape, dinner.
Pero may sense ba na work siya? Nagka-feeling na ba kayo na tipong, “Hindi pala ganito ka-dali.” Like, ito ang dream mo, ito ‘yung gusto mong gawin, pero trabaho ‘to?
Badjao: Feeling ko lang ‘yung trabaho for us is ‘yung, kunwari, lilipad o ‘di ka matutulog kasi susunduin ka ng van tapos two hours ‘yung biyahe. Feel ko ‘yun na ‘yung part ng work. Pero kunwari, nasa stage na o gagawa na ng music…
Blaster: Nakakalimutan na [ang] work…
Badjao: ‘Yun na ‘yung hindi work. Ito na ‘yung gusto nating gawin.
Zild: Okay lang kahit tawagin siyang work, para sa ‘kin. Kasi mahal ko naman ‘yung work namin.
Blaster: Job your love.
Badjao: Oo, job your love! [Laughs]
Zild: Feeling ko nagiging work siya kasi may call time. Pero kung walang call time ang lahat, walang pasok sa office, lahat ‘di ma-fi-feel ‘yung work. Pero syempre may time na pupunta, may formalities, may contracts, emails. So parang nagiging work ang mga bagay- bagay. Okay rin para hindi namin masyado i-magnify ‘yung art, para hindi rin siya masyadong fantasy. Para ‘di kami masyadong maging,“‘Di, artist ako e.” Okay siyang sabihing, “‘De, ito ‘yung role na binigay sa amin e.”
Unique: Ganoon din sa akin e. Parang okay din na iniisip ko siya na work para mas makakilos ako nang maayos at saka mas maging responsable sa sched. Mas na-e-enjoy ko kapag inisip ko na work kasi mas gusto ko ‘yung routine. Mas nagkaka-purpose. Kasi may pupuntahan ka e. ‘Di lang siya ‘yung basta nag- express ka lang. Kasi ang daming involved.
Does that come with age? Like, nung nag-sa-start kayo, idealistic ba kayo in terms of kung ano ‘yung gusto niyong gawin?
Blaster: Oo!
Zild: Nothing to lose e ‘pag naisisimula pa lang. So kahit naka-turtleneck kami sa bar, tapos tinatawanan kami ng ibang bands, okay lang kasi sino ba naman kami? Tina-try naming i-preserve ‘yung ganon. Mahirap pero idealistic kami. Gusto namin makasabay ‘yung mga idol naming banda: Up Dharma Down, Eraserheads, Rivermaya. Ma-meet namin ‘yung mga ‘yon. Nag-no-notebook rin kami para kung anong gusto naming gawin e. So medyo ganun na kami mag-isip pala, ngayon ko lang din na-realize.
Blaster: Ako, bihira ko isipin e. Hindi ko alam kung idealism ko ba ‘yun, o nagtatrabaho ba ako… Nag-sho-show up lang.
Badjao: Ako happy to be there na lang ako, ‘yung pakiramdam before. Pero ngayon happy to be here pa rin ako. Late lang ako lagi.
Unique: Siguro wala namang nagbago sa pagiging idealistic namin. Pero feel ko nagbago ‘yung expectations na ‘pag hindi namin na-reach ‘yung ganitong point na parang magiging hard kami sa sarili namin. Ngayon, try lang kami nang try. ‘Pag hindi nangyari, iba gawin natin. Try natin nang iba pa.
Read the rest of the story in the Anniversary Issue of Rolling Stone Philippines. Pre-order a copy on Sari-Sari Shopping, or read the e-magazine now here.
Styling by LYN ALUMNO assisted by ANGELA CEPEDA, LYNUS MARTIN
Grooming by DOROTHY MAMALIO
Hair by RHOY CERVANTES, CRISELDA VALDOZ
Official Venue Partner DUSIT THANI
Official Food Partner KHAO KHAI THAI CHICKEN HOUSE
